Saturday, November 29, 2008

Saturday, November 15, 2008

Old Blog Posts Continued.



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Maine:





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I love bugs. Weeeee!

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Thursday, November 13, 2008

Friday, November 7, 2008

Jack Kerouac Stencil



Jack stencil in spray paint on ceramic tile. 6 x 6inches?

Wednesday, November 5, 2008

Old blogs

These are some of the best tidbits from around a year or so of blogging on myspace.com. There will be more:

Love is a very strange emotion. If you truely have it in your heart it burns for everyone and it makes it easy to embrace the ones you love. If you've burnt out its a reminder of lost time and wasted words and keeps you at a distance from people who would otherwise fall into your arms.

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After my interview I was still dressed to impress so I mostly watched Colin paint. I risked a coat of trim and worked very clean and at one point went to the bathroom, on the way was met by two guys coming into the apartment looking for some girl. I didn't know her but these guys were cocked and thought I might.

They had on wife beaters and stained button downs and two threaded iron bars. I tried to get the story straight and offered them a beer and to get the fuck out of my apartment. They were left in Providence (home town of Swansea sp?) and needed a phone or a cab or something.

I wasn't busy so I took the ride. I demanded a pack of cigarettes and that no crazy iron bars were brought in the car and made it safe to where ever I drove and was hosted as a savior king.

This has seriously been (one of the many) strangest nights of my life.

Weeds - Good TV.
Strangers - Just that.
Getting home safe - Makes me forget about the gash in my ass.

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So last night was New Years Eve. Highlights include cooking with Bre, getting to talk with Dan and Matt, making deals with Larissa, winning at beer pong, calling people the wrong name, toasting with Dan, getting calls from a far, speed boating Savanah and stealing as much shit as I could from mike before leaving.

Not so high lighted: getting totally housed by Mikes sister and putting a new crack in my ass. At some point I fell over (wrestling with mike?) and on to a bit of broken glass which put a huge gash in my ass. It could be worse but honestly, its really gnarly. It needs stitches but I have no health coverage so I just sprayed the shit out of it with new skin and have been laying on my belly.

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The ball keeps rolling, spin it in the right direction.

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Just barely reaching over the bar to slap drunk pre-21 year olds I resort to doing my best to make my insulting tip insults audible in a loud crowded room. Last night I flicked a quarter into the air and caught it in my pocket. I worked for that money.

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Sometimes you find yourself with a rusty old frame of a bike. A bike some kid grew up learning on, fell off of, skinned knees, bought candy, made friends and got away from parents with. Years removed its collecting dust and rusting away but with focused care and attention you can get back on again even if that ride is your last.

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Denny Dent

From Monterey Pop

A word from President Elect, Barak Obama:

Part 1:


Part 2:


Transcript:
If there is anyone out there who still doubts that America is a place where all things are possible; who still wonders if the dream of our founders is alive in our time; who still questions the power of our democracy, tonight is your answer.

It's the answer told by lines that stretched around schools and churches in numbers this nation has never seen; by people who waited three hours and four hours, many for the very first time in their lives, because they believed that this time must be different; that their voice could be that difference.

It's the answer spoken by young and old, rich and poor, Democrat and Republican, black, white, Latino, Asian, Native American, gay, straight, disabled and not disabled — Americans who sent a message to the world that we have never been a collection of red states and blue states; we are, and always will be, the United States of America.

It's the answer that led those who have been told for so long by so many to be cynical, and fearful, and doubtful of what we can achieve to put their hands on the arc of history and bend it once more toward the hope of a better day.

It's been a long time coming, but tonight, because of what we did on this day, in this election, at this defining moment, change has come to America.

I just received a very gracious call from Sen. McCain. He fought long and hard in this campaign, and he's fought even longer and harder for the country he loves. He has endured sacrifices for America that most of us cannot begin to imagine, and we are better off for the service rendered by this brave and selfless leader. I congratulate him and Gov. Palin for all they have achieved, and I look forward to working with them to renew this nation's promise in the months ahead.

I want to thank my partner in this journey, a man who campaigned from his heart and spoke for the men and women he grew up with on the streets of Scranton and rode with on that train home to Delaware, the vice-president-elect of the United States, Joe Biden.

I would not be standing here tonight without the unyielding support of my best friend for the last 16 years, the rock of our family and the love of my life, our nation's next first lady, Michelle Obama. Sasha and Malia, I love you both so much, and you have earned the new puppy that's coming with us to the White House. And while she's no longer with us, I know my grandmother is watching, along with the family that made me who I am. I miss them tonight, and know that my debt to them is beyond measure.

To my campaign manager, David Plouffe; my chief strategist, David Axelrod; and the best campaign team ever assembled in the history of politics — you made this happen, and I am forever grateful for what you've sacrificed to get it done.

But above all, I will never forget who this victory truly belongs to — it belongs to you.

I was never the likeliest candidate for this office. We didn't start with much money or many endorsements. Our campaign was not hatched in the halls of Washington — it began in the backyards of Des Moines and the living rooms of Concord and the front porches of Charleston.

It was built by working men and women who dug into what little savings they had to give $5 and $10 and $20 to this cause. It grew strength from the young people who rejected the myth of their generation's apathy; who left their homes and their families for jobs that offered little pay and less sleep; from the not-so-young people who braved the bitter cold and scorching heat to knock on the doors of perfect strangers; from the millions of Americans who volunteered and organized, and proved that more than two centuries later, a government of the people, by the people and for the people has not perished from this earth. This is your victory.

I know you didn't do this just to win an election, and I know you didn't do it for me. You did it because you understand the enormity of the task that lies ahead. For even as we celebrate tonight, we know the challenges that tomorrow will bring are the greatest of our lifetime — two wars, a planet in peril, the worst financial crisis in a century. Even as we stand here tonight, we know there are brave Americans waking up in the deserts of Iraq and the mountains of Afghanistan to risk their lives for us. There are mothers and fathers who will lie awake after their children fall asleep and wonder how they'll make the mortgage, or pay their doctor's bills, or save enough for college. There is new energy to harness and new jobs to be created; new schools to build and threats to meet and alliances to repair.

The road ahead will be long. Our climb will be steep. We may not get there in one year, or even one term, but America — I have never been more hopeful than I am tonight that we will get there. I promise you: We as a people will get there.

There will be setbacks and false starts. There are many who won't agree with every decision or policy I make as president, and we know that government can't solve every problem. But I will always be honest with you about the challenges we face. I will listen to you, especially when we disagree. And, above all, I will ask you join in the work of remaking this nation the only way it's been done in America for 221 years — block by block, brick by brick, callused hand by callused hand.

What began 21 months ago in the depths of winter must not end on this autumn night. This victory alone is not the change we seek — it is only the chance for us to make that change. And that cannot happen if we go back to the way things were. It cannot happen without you.

So let us summon a new spirit of patriotism; of service and responsibility where each of us resolves to pitch in and work harder and look after not only ourselves, but each other. Let us remember that if this financial crisis taught us anything, it's that we cannot have a thriving Wall Street while Main Street suffers. In this country, we rise or fall as one nation — as one people.

Let us resist the temptation to fall back on the same partisanship and pettiness and immaturity that has poisoned our politics for so long. Let us remember that it was a man from this state who first carried the banner of the Republican Party to the White House — a party founded on the values of self-reliance, individual liberty and national unity. Those are values we all share, and while the Democratic Party has won a great victory tonight, we do so with a measure of humility and determination to heal the divides that have held back our progress.

As Lincoln said to a nation far more divided than ours, "We are not enemies, but friends... Though passion may have strained, it must not break our bonds of affection." And, to those Americans whose support I have yet to earn, I may not have won your vote, but I hear your voices, I need your help, and I will be your president, too.

And to all those watching tonight from beyond our shores, from parliaments and palaces to those who are huddled around radios in the forgotten corners of our world — our stories are singular, but our destiny is shared, and a new dawn of American leadership is at hand. To those who would tear this world down: We will defeat you. To those who seek peace and security: We support you. And to all those who have wondered if America's beacon still burns as bright: Tonight, we proved once more that the true strength of our nation comes not from the might of our arms or the scale of our wealth, but from the enduring power of our ideals: democracy, liberty, opportunity and unyielding hope.

For that is the true genius of America — that America can change. Our union can be perfected. And what we have already achieved gives us hope for what we can and must achieve tomorrow.

This election had many firsts and many stories that will be told for generations. But one that's on my mind tonight is about a woman who cast her ballot in Atlanta. She's a lot like the millions of others who stood in line to make their voice heard in this election, except for one thing: Ann Nixon Cooper is 106 years old.

She was born just a generation past slavery; a time when there were no cars on the road or planes in the sky; when someone like her couldn't vote for two reasons — because she was a woman and because of the color of her skin.

And tonight, I think about all that she's seen throughout her century in America — the heartache and the hope; the struggle and the progress; the times we were told that we can't and the people who pressed on with that American creed: Yes, we can.

At a time when women's voices were silenced and their hopes dismissed, she lived to see them stand up and speak out and reach for the ballot. Yes, we can.

When there was despair in the Dust Bowl and depression across the land, she saw a nation conquer fear itself with a New Deal, new jobs and a new sense of common purpose. Yes, we can.

When the bombs fell on our harbor and tyranny threatened the world, she was there to witness a generation rise to greatness and a democracy was saved. Yes, we can.

She was there for the buses in Montgomery, the hoses in Birmingham, a bridge in Selma and a preacher from Atlanta who told a people that "We Shall Overcome." Yes, we can.

A man touched down on the moon, a wall came down in Berlin, a world was connected by our own science and imagination. And this year, in this election, she touched her finger to a screen and cast her vote, because after 106 years in America, through the best of times and the darkest of hours, she knows how America can change. Yes, we can.

America, we have come so far. We have seen so much. But there is so much more to do. So tonight, let us ask ourselves: If our children should live to see the next century; if my daughters should be so lucky to live as long as Ann Nixon Cooper, what change will they see? What progress will we have made?

This is our chance to answer that call. This is our moment. This is our time — to put our people back to work and open doors of opportunity for our kids; to restore prosperity and promote the cause of peace; to reclaim the American Dream and reaffirm that fundamental truth that out of many, we are one; that while we breathe, we hope, and where we are met with cynicism, and doubt, and those who tell us that we can't, we will respond with that timeless creed that sums up the spirit of a people: Yes, we can.

Thank you, God bless you, and may God bless the United States of America.

RIP Michael Crichton

When I was 12 I saw the movie Jurassic Park and it sort of blew my mind. I bought the paperback that summer and read and reread it, savoring grizzly scenes silently as my sisters sang along to the car radio. Moving on I read most of Michael Crichton's early novels which opened my young mind to physical, mental and social oddities of life. Creating keys and locks with educated experience in the medical field Crichton made them turn with phantasmagoric prose that brought dinosaurs to life and allowed me to access inner reaches of imagination.

http://www.michaelcrichton.net/

Tuesday, November 4, 2008

I'm off to vote.

If you could blow up the world with the flick of a switch
Would you do it?
If you could make everyobody poor just so you could be rich
Would you do it?
If you could watch everybody work while you just lay on your back
Would you do it?
If you could take all the love without giving any back
Would you do it?
And so we cannot know ourselves or what we'd really do...

With all your power
With all your power
With all your power
What would you do?

If you could make your own money and then give it to everybody
Would you do it?
If you knew all the answers and could give it to the masses
Would you do it?
No no no no no no are you crazy?
It's a very dangerous thing to do exactly what you want
Because you cannot know yourself or what you'd really do

With all your power
With all your power
With all your power
What would you do?

YEAHYEAHYEAH Song - The Flaming Lips

Monday, November 3, 2008

Cookin'

Tonight I got home around 7 and was alone for dinner. I stopped at Dave's Superawesome Market for some food and ended up with a bunch of shit to make some sort of asian inspired chicken and broccoli but also hedged my bets with Teddy's Old Fashioned Peanut Butter just incase I didn't feel like peeling ginger and frying chicken when I got home.

But I did.

Cheesy Chinesey Broccoli and Chicken
1 bunch scallions
2 cups (roughly) broccoli
2 lean chicken breasts
1 table spoon grated ginger
1 table spoon garlic
2 table spoons brown sugar
1/4 cup soy sauce
1/2 cup white wine
flour
canola oil

1. Prep veg. Rough chop broccoli/scallions. Peel ginger and garlic and grate. Chuck ingredients into pan with soy sauce and white wine and let reduce on low heat. Add brown sugar.

2. Heat up oil in dutch oven or large pan while chopping up chicken into 1 inch pieces. Dredge in seasoned (I used Lowery's) flour and toss (gently) in hot oil. Let chicken brown, remove from oil and place directly into warm sauce, mix. Add broccoli and cover to steam for 1 minute. Remove from heat, stir and serve.

I ate this straight up but I would imagine it would be killer on some white sticky rice. This is a nice quick meal. It took me all of 10 minutes to make from start to finish.

Sunday, November 2, 2008

Hungoverween.

I worked Halloween night and had to work the next day at 6 am. Luckily my sister's friends were celebrating again on the 1st so Lauren and I got all made up (thanks to her crafty coworker Amanda) and headed out. I should say before I get into the whole show and tell that even though Lauren and I didn't party on friday night we did go out for food and drinks, we both had salads and split a 5 dollar appetizer and the bill came to almost $80. ($80-$25food=$55drinks)=hung over Neil. I had no problem waking up at 5am and working the day but come 6pm when I was supposed to get in the shower I was not so cooperative. Luckily for Lauren and I we love each other and so whatever disagreements we had were kissed away when Amanda came in to start prepping us for the night.

Lauren was Little Red Riding Hood:



What this picture fails to show is how damn beautiful her hair looked. Amanda curled it and it looked like some sort of supermodel hair. I was impressed.

I was a zombie:



What this picture succeeds in illustrating is not what a good job Amanda did on my makeup but how bad my hair looked. God I'm bald. Here is another makeup shot:



I wore my regular clothes as zombies don't really change clothes after becoming the undead.

Once we got to the party the earlier events of the evening were forgotten and we had lots of fun. Lauren got hammered on jello shots and we took lots of pictures in the bathroom. Some are too hot for TV but this pretty much sum up the night and why I love this girl:



Other highlights include but are not limited too: Sonic and Tails, karaoke, old school Nintendo controllers, analingus, smoking cats, Ellen peeing in front of strangers and Lauren incubating a bottle of Arbor Mist.